Drilling proponents looking toward Florida's future

Letters To The Editor For Wednesday, Feb. 24

Tuesday

Feb 23, 2010 at 12:01 AMMar 31, 2012 at 9:05 PM

The Feb. 13 "Hands Across The Sand" events were an attempt to dissuade the Legislature from opening Florida's waters to offshore oil and natural gas exploration. While the events received a lot of attention from the media, many news reports did not reflect the views of a majority of Floridians who believe that it is time to tap into domestic fuel sources off our shores.

Contrary to the rhetoric of opponents, those of us who favor increased exploration for oil and natural gas are not looking for a quick fix at the gas pump. We know that is not going to lower the price per gallon. What concerns us is our nation's and our state's energy future. Without a comprehensive plan that combines alternative energy, conservation and more domestic energy production, we will face decreased access to energy sources and increased energy costs.

Further, we are concerned about the implications of rising energy costs on our economy. Florida has suffered enough job loss in the past year. Do we really want to compound that by hitting struggling industries and small businesses with higher operating costs, thereby forcing them to lay off employees? Tourism officials just announced a drop in the number of visitors. Policies that result in making it more expensive to bring visitors to Florida certainly will not help revitalize this anchor industry.

For those who say offshore drilling will hurt our tourism industry, I urge you to learn more about the cleaner, safer and less intrusive technologies that can find and extract oil and natural gas without hurting our pristine coastline. Protecting our environment and tourism industry is important, but strengthening our economy and energy future for generations to come is paramount.

NICOLAS J. GUTIERREZ JR.

Miami

Editor's note: Nicolás J. Gutiérrez Jr., a ?Aformer member of the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board, is chairman of FLA Energy Forum. The group's national organization, America's Energy Forum, receives money from the American Petroleum Institute. His e-mail address is flaenergyforum@gmail.com

State needs standards for rational education

With regard to The Post's criticism of the education system in Florida, I am never surprised by the reports about the system. As the paper's editorial said, "On standards, Florida scored a perfect 100 percent. … On college readiness … Florida scored a 50 percent." Indeed, "surreal." Perhaps, now, the public in this state will come to understand the reasons, which few are willing to articulate.

First, the reports need to be stated in reverse: College readiness is at 50 percent because the standards, assessments and accountability are a perfect 100 percent. In fact, for any number of reasons, Florida has a jumbled mess of standards, assessments and accountability that make exceptions for some students and hurt others. Perhaps Florida has more "unprepared" students because of immigration, which brings students who are illiterate in their own language and therefore are illiterate in English. Perhaps Florida does not hold the parents to the standards which support education. Yet the education rankings do not consider any of this.

So, as the editorial said, the state's "priority should be to create a rational system … instead of gearing up for new attacks on public education." But not until said state really has standards will that rational system exist. There are too may exceptions and too may non-standards for a standard to exist.

TERRY BENNETT

Delray Beach

Tebow an asset to any team; hello, Jaguars?

There was much talk about Tim Tebow's Super Bowl commercial, but I'd like to comment on his pro football career, and the coverage of his performance at the Senior Bowl.

Tim won't make excuses for himself, so let me remind the naysayers that he was a very ill young man that day. He had a temperature of 103, and had to make a trip to the hospital. Did he complain, whine or make excuses? No, he went to the field and practiced, and insisted he was having a ball, showing the leadership skills he's demonstrated throughout his high school and college playing career. Who can even think of turning down a kid like this?

Tim is right when he says he needs only one team that likes him. Coachable, humble, devoted to his game and private life, he is a born leader . His footwork, passing mechanics and other changes necessary to be successful in the NFL are all fixable. What often can't be fixed in NFL rookies are those things specific to the individual: attitude, ethics, smarts, a steady emotional makeup and just truly being a nice guy.

I see that Dan Marino magic in Tim Tebow and would love to have him play for the Dolphins. But I know that the Jacksonville Jaguars are having trouble selling tickets. Draft Tim Tebow, problem gone.

DICK DOWNES

Jupiterfior

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